Garcia death penalty review moves to day 2

OMAHA, Neb. -- A three-judge panel resumes the task Thursday of deciding whether convicted killer Anthony Garcia will be sent to death row or face life in prison.

The hearing began on Wednesday. Garcia was present, slumped over in a wheelchair with his eyes closed.

In 2016 Garcia was convicted in the 2008 deaths of Thomas Hunter, the 11-year-old son of Creighton University Medical Center pathologist Dr. William Hunter and the family's housekeeper, Shirlee Sherman, as well as the 2013 deaths of Creighton pathologist Dr. Roger Brumback and his wife Mary.Prosecutors described the crimes as revenge killings against Creighton University doctors who fired Garcia more than a decade ago.

For six hours on Wednesday the defense presented mitigating factors to help their client avoid the death penalty. They say he suffered from severe depression long before the first murders in 2008.Garcia was admitted to an inpatient clinic for two weeks in 2003 where he was described as being angry and depressed.

Douglas County prosecutor Don Kleine said Garcia has been evaluated several times and found to be competent.

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